Entertainment

New Rep’s Run Ends With Fanfare: Several Nominations & 2 Wins at Theater Awards Ceremony

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Valyn Lyric Turner gives her acceptance speech after winning the Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Small Theater for her role in “A Raisin in the Sun.” (Photo by Nile Scott Studios)

Watertown-based New Repertory Theatre closed its doors in 2023, but the company’s final season earned accolades at the recent Elliot Norton Awards in Boston. The following announcement was provided by Maria Hendricks, one of the former Resident Artists/Co-Artistic Directors at New Rep.

New Repertory Theatre’s final season went out with a bang as its productions were celebrated at the esteemed 41st Annual Elliot Norton Awards, held at The Huntington Theater on May 20. As one of the Greater Boston area’s premiere mid-sized regional theater companies for 40 years, it was especially gratifying for the company to receive such meaningful recognition as it ended its run. New Rep received 7 Nominations:

• Outstanding Production, Small Theater – A Raisin in the Sun

• Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Small Theater – Damon Singletary – A Raisin in the Sun

• Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Small Theater – Valyn Lyric Turner – A Raisin in the Sun

• Outstanding Director, Small Theater – Lois Roach – A Raisin in the Sun

• Outstanding Director, Small Theater – Pascale Florestal – Diaspora!

Around Town

Mosesian Center for Arts Seeks to Fill Void Left by New Rep’s Closing

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The Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown. (Courtesy Photo)

For nearly two decades, the Mosesian Center for the Arts and the New Repertory Theatre went together hand in hand, but that relationship comes to an end this year after New Rep’s announcement that it will be closing. Since the Mosesian Center opened its doors in 2005 — known then as the Arsenal Center for the Arts — New Rep has been the primary user of the stages at the arts facility located in the Arsenal on the Charles. “They were the resident theater company . They have been since the Arts Center opened in September 2005 — an 18-year history,” said Mosesian Arts’ Executive Director Darren Farrington.

Entertainment

UPDATED: Watertown’s New Rep Theatre Announces it Will be Closing Down

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After 40 years and more than 300 productions, New Repertory Theatre announced that it will be closing its doors. The company has been located for many years at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, and it expanded beyond the walls of the theater at the Arsenal Center for the Arts to put on a pair of moving plays during the Pandemic, Listen to Sipu and the Charles W. Lenox Experience. The company Pandemic also brought financial woes for New Rep, and it suspended operations for nine months beginning in July 2021. In 2023, the company’s season included three plays, including Tony winners. However, those will be the final productions for New Rep.

On Oct.

Entertainment

New Rep Announces Casts & Design Team for “Raisin in the Sun” & “Diaspora!”

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The cast of New Rep’s “Raisin in the Sun” includes Damon Singletary (right) as Walter Lee Younger, and Jon Vellante as Karl Lindner. (Courtesy of New Rep)

Following its highly acclaimed, sold-out, three-week run of The Normal Heart, New Repertory Theatre (New Rep) is excited to announce the now complete casts and design team for its upcoming productions of A Raisin in the Sun and Diaspora! The shows will run in repertory, with A Raisin in the Sun beginning its three-week run Sept. 5 through Oct. 1, 2023, and DIASPORA! running from Sept. 12 through Oct.

Entertainment

New Rep Theatre & Watertown Library to Host City’s First ‘Multicultural Fest’

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Library and New Rep Theatre:

New Repertory Theatre and the Watertown Free Public Library are pleased to continue their history of collaboration, to present the first ever Multicultural Fest at Noche de Dominó, on Thursday, August 3rd from 4-8 p.m. The event will take place at Saltonstall Park in Watertown, MA. 

The Multicultural Fest will feature an eclectic range of performances, artisans/vendors, domino tables, crafts, a short Zumba session, pick-up soccer in the field, and delicious eats by food vendor Flavor Boom! It is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome! The Multicultural Fest Planning Team is comprised by Maria Hendricks (Resident Artist for New Rep), Cal Callahan (New Rep Education Coordinator ), María Mayobre (WFPL Volunteer/Dominoes Teacher) and Allie Fry (Programming Librarian for Watertown Free Public Library.) 

Multicultural Fest reflects New Repertory Theatre’s ongoing commitment to community outreach initiatives and collaborations, and to presenting diverse talent from underrepresented communities. Building on the recent success of Watertown Zine Fest and the Watertown Pride Extravaganza, the Watertown Free Public Library aspires to help create City-wide events that reflect and amplify the diverse voices of the Watertown community.

Around Town

Special Performance of Play About Watertown’s Indigenous History

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The following announcement was provided by the Pigsgusset Initiative:

Community members are invited to a spring performance of Listen to Sipu, a play about Watertown’s Indigenous History written by Mwalim*7) and performed by New Repertory Theatre. Save the date!  May 11, 2023. Listen to Sipu offers a captivating and powerful story that illuminates Watertown’s Indigenous history. Join in on a performance led by a modern-day Tour Guide and meet Sipu, a quick-witted Indigenous woman who’s more than willing to correct misinformation when she hears it. Armed with facts the Tour Guide begins describing Watertown’s local history only to find that the facts are missing a lot of truths. Sipu is ready to step in and set the record straight, but will people choose to listen? 

The performance will be offered at the Watertown Middle School auditorium from 6:30-8:00 P.M. A light supper provided by Branchline featuring the Indigenous cuisine of Chef Sherry Pocknett will be provided from 5:30 – 6:30 in the cafeteria. Thanks to generous grants from the Watertown Community Foundation, the Watertown Cultural Council and support from the school-based Diversity and Inclusion Councils both the supper and performance are free.

Entertainment

New Rep Theatre Announces Directors for 2023 Season

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The directors for New Rep Theatre’s 2023 season, clockwise from top left: Shira Helena Gitlin, Pascale Florestal, and Lois Roach. (photo by New Rep)

The following announcement was provided by New Repertory Theatre:

New Repertory Theatre is excited to announce the Directors for each of the plays of its 2023 Season, as the company continues to build on its nearly 40-year legacy of excellent, provocative theatrical productions that speak to the vital issues of our time. 

Shira Helena Gitlin will direct Larry Kramer’s Tony Award winning autobiographical drama, The Normal Heart, opening June 22 for a three-week run through July 9. Set in New York City in the early 1980’s, Larry Kramer’s powerful, passionate and controversial play was the first to treat seriously the poignant and devastating subject of AIDS. Shira is a trans nonbinary, Boston-based director, dramaturg, gender consultant, and musical theatre enthusiast. They have directed for the National Women’s Theatre Festival, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Moonbox Productions, Flat Earth Theatre, Sparkhaven Theatre, Playwrights’ Platform, the Boston Theatre Marathon and more. Shira is a graduate of the Arden Professional Apprentice Class 26, was an Artistic Fellow at SpeakEasy Stage, and is an alumni of Directors Lab North in Toronto, Canada. Says Shira: “The Normal Heart is a perfect example of a part of our history that is already being erased by the history books. It is vital that we remember and engage with the challenges that the LGBT+ community has faced in the past to help us move forward against the most recent attacks on our human rights.”  

Lorraine Hansberry’s masterpiece drama, A Raisin in the Sun, will be directed by Lois Roach. A searing and timeless portrait of a family on Chicago’s South Side, and an American classic, A Raisin in the Sun opens September 6 through October 1. Lois is a writer, award winning producer and stage director, and Resident Artist at New Rep. She received the IRNE Best Director Award for the Lyric Stage production of The Old Settler which also received the IRNE Award for Best Production and the Elliot Norton Award for Best Production (Small Theater).

Entertainment

New Rep Presents Dramatic Reading from One Book, One Watertown Title

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The following announcement was provided by New Rep Theatre:

New Repertory Theatre is pleased to present an exclusive, dramatic reading from Big Girl, with special permission from author Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, as part of the Watertown Free Public Library’s monthlong celebration of this outstanding new work as part of One Book, One Watertown 2023. The reading is directed by Lois Roach and features Regine Vital and Maria Hendricks. It will take place on Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room. It is free to the public. Refreshments will be available.  

This year’s One Book, One Watertown selection questions who is permitted to take up space.